Congratulations on bringing your new puppy home! Sweet kisses, puppy snuggles, and romping playtime is coming your way! Potty accidents, cries from the crate, and nips on your ankles are probably also on the way. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed with puppyhood. What helps is having a plan in place so you can enjoy the time you have with your puppy. Below, we have outlined what to do the first three days with your new puppy.
Bonding
The most important thing to do when you first bring your puppy home is to spend time with them! They are leaving their family and home, and will understandably be unsure of the new surroundings and faces. These first few days are about playing and snuggling with your puppy and letting them explore their new home.
Acclimating them to other pets in the household
If you have other pets in the home, puppies will also need to be introduced to them. This is important to do slowly, if you have a senior dog or a cat in the house. Because these pets often do not like to be chased or jumped on, start with the puppy tethered to a sturdy piece of furniture. This way your other pets can approach or back away, as needed. Overtime, the puppy can come off the tether to interact more freely with their new furry sibling.
Crate Training
Crate training is the first training you will do with a new puppy. At night, set the crate at eye level by either putting it in your bed or put it on a chair or table next to your bed. This way the puppy knows you are there and you can stick your fingers in their crate to comfort them. The crate should be free of any absorbent materials, like potty pads or bedding, to discourage the puppy from covering accidents with bedding in one corner and sleeping comfortably in the other. During the day if the puppy needs to be left alone, the puppy will also need to be crated. Leave a kong stuffed with treats or their meal in the crate, so they associate good things with being left alone.
Housebreaking
Potty training will also start as soon as your puppy comes home. Take your puppy outside to the same spot whenever they need to use their bathroom. They’ll have to be monitored at all times when they are in the house, and put them in their crate if you need a break. If you need more housebreaking tips, we have an article on how to potty train your puppy.
Socializing
The points above should be your focus the first few days with your puppy. However if you are ready to get a jump start on training, socialization should be your next priority. A puppy’s socialization period is theorized to be between 3-12 weeks. During this time, it is important that your puppy is introduced to different people, animals, settings, sounds, and smells. During the socialization training, your puppy should begin to build positive associations with all the people and places by giving them treats if they look nervous. Check out our article on how to properly socialize your puppy here.
If you’re still nervous about what to expect when bringing home a new puppy, feel free to reach out to one of our certified behavior consultants! We can help build your supplies list, create a customized housebreaking plan, and set you up for success before your new puppy ever comes home.
